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生 is a Chinese word that means “to be born” and “to give birth.”
Also, it's often used to refer to life itself, and sometimes “to grow.”
生 is used in a lot of compound words such as “yi sheng,” which means “doctor” (literally “healer of life”), “sheng ri” which means “birthday” (literally “birth-day”), and “xue sheng” which means student (literally “studying life” or “learner [about] life”). Few Chinese people will think of the literal meaning when this uses words like doctor and student - but it is interesting to note.
生 has the same root meaning in Korean Hanja and Japanese. However, in Japanese, there are many possible pronunciations, and this can be used to mean “raw” or “unprocessed” (as in draft beer). Therefore, not be the best if your audience is Japanese.
See Also: Vitality
勝 is a single character that means to win or be victorious.
This can also be translated: To overcome; success; to beat; to defeat; to surpass; superior to; to get the better of; better than; surpassing; superb.
In another context, this can mean beautiful (scenery); scenic spot; or scenic beauty.
In Taiwanese Mandarin, this can be pronounced with the first tone (sheng1) and mean: Able to bear; equal to (a task).
In Japan, this can also be the name Masaru.
In Korea, this has the same meaning but can also be the surname Sŭng.
聖 is the simple, single-character religious form of “saint” in Chinese (also holds the same meaning in Japanese and Korean, though rarely used alone like this).
This can also mean holy, sage, master, or priest.
Note: 聖 is often used in compound words (words of more than one character) to create further meanings. In compounds, it can mean holy, sacred, or divine.
聖 is also used as the first word for Spanish and English place names such as “San Diego” and “St. Louis” in Chinese (not Japanese).
In the Buddhist context, this can represent ārya or sādhu. And mean a sage; wise and good; upright, or correct in all his character; sacred, holy, or saintly.
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your sheng search...
| Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
勝 胜 see styles |
shèng sheng4 sheng masaru まさる |
More info & calligraphy: Win / Victory(1) win; victory; (2) beautiful scenery; scenic spot; (suf,ctr) (3) (ant: 敗・2) counter for wins; (surname, female given name) Masaru jina, victorious, from ji, to overcome, surpass. |
生 see styles |
shēng sheng1 sheng yanao やなお |
More info & calligraphy: Birth / Life(n,n-suf) (See 芝生) area of thick growth (of trees, grass, etc.); (surname) Yanao jāti 惹多; life; utpāda means coming forth, birth, production; 生 means beget, bear, birth, rebirth, born, begin, produce, life, the living. One of the twelve nidānas, 十二因緣; birth takes place in four forms, catur yoni, v. 四生, in each case causing: a sentient being to enter one of the 六道 six gati, or paths of transmigration. |
盛 see styles |
shèng sheng4 sheng yoshi よし |
More info & calligraphy: Seng(n,n-suf,ctr) (1) serving (of food); helping; (2) (abbreviation) chilled soba served on a dish (often on a wicker basket or in a shallow steaming basket) with dipping sauce; (given name) Yoshi abundant |
聖 圣 see styles |
shèng sheng4 sheng mina みな |
More info & calligraphy: The Saint(1) highly virtuous monk; (2) (honorific or respectful language) monk; (3) Buddhist solitary; (4) (See 高野聖・1) Buddhist missionary; (5) saint (i.e. a virtuous person); (6) (archaism) (honorific or respectful language) emperor; (7) (in form 〜の聖) master; expert; (female given name) Mina ārya; sādhu; a sage; wise and good; upright, or correct in all his character; sacred, holy, saintly. |
上昇 上升 see styles |
shàng shēng shang4 sheng1 shang sheng joushou / josho じょうしょう |
More info & calligraphy: Ascend(n,vs,vi,adj-no) rising; ascending; climbing to ascend [to the heavenly realm] |
先生 see styles |
xiān sheng xian1 sheng5 hsien sheng senjou / senjo せんじょう |
More info & calligraphy: Sensei / Master / Teacher / Mister(honorific or respectful language) (rare) man (chi: xiānshēng); boy; (surname) Senjō Senior, sir, teacher, master, Mr.; a previous life. |
勝義 胜义 see styles |
shèng yì sheng4 yi4 sheng i yoshitomo よしとも |
More info & calligraphy: Ultimate TruthBeyond description, that which surpasses mere earthly ideas; superlative, inscrutable. |
學生 学生 see styles |
xué sheng xue2 sheng5 hsüeh sheng gakusei |
More info & calligraphy: Student學人; 學匠; 學徒 A student, a neophyte. |
新生 see styles |
xīn shēng xin1 sheng1 hsin sheng wakaki わかき |
More info & calligraphy: New Life(n,vs,vi) rebirth; new birth; nascent; (given name) Wakaki newly arisen |
更生 see styles |
gēng shēng geng1 sheng1 keng sheng tsugio つぎお |
More info & calligraphy: Rehabilitation / Rebirth(noun/participle) (1) rehabilitation; remaking one's life; starting life anew; (noun/participle) (2) rebirth; regeneration; reorganization; rebuilding; recovery; restoration; remaking; (noun/participle) (3) coming back to life; revival; resuscitation; (given name) Tsugio rebirth |
武生 see styles |
wǔ shēng wu3 sheng1 wu sheng mushuu / mushu むしゅう |
More info & calligraphy: Wusheng(place-name) Mushuu |
武聖 武圣 see styles |
wǔ shèng wu3 sheng4 wu sheng |
More info & calligraphy: Warrior Saint / Saint of War |
民生 see styles |
mín shēng min2 sheng1 min sheng minsei / minse みんせい |
More info & calligraphy: People’s Livelihood and Welfarepublic welfare; the people's livelihood; (given name) Minsei |
永生 see styles |
yǒng shēng yong3 sheng1 yung sheng hisaki ひさき |
More info & calligraphy: Eternal Life / Everlasting Life / Immortalityeternal life; immortality; (personal name) Hisaki Eternal life; immortality; nirvana is defined as 不生 not being born, i. e. not reborn, and therefore 不滅 not dying; 永生 is also perpetual life; the Amitābha cult says in the Pure Land. |
生命 see styles |
shēng mìng sheng1 ming4 sheng ming seimei / seme せいめい |
More info & calligraphy: Life Force(1) life; existence; (n,n-suf) (2) (See 役者生命) (one's) working life; career; (3) (occ. read いのち) life force; lifeblood; soul; essence |
生存 see styles |
shēng cún sheng1 cun2 sheng ts`un sheng tsun seizon / sezon せいぞん |
More info & calligraphy: Survive(n,vs,vi) existence; being; life; survival |
生活 see styles |
shēng huó sheng1 huo2 sheng huo seikatsu / sekatsu せいかつ |
More info & calligraphy: Living / Live Life(n,vs,vi) (1) life; living; (2) livelihood; (one's) living one's living |
盛大 see styles |
shèng dà sheng4 da4 sheng ta seidai / sedai せいだい |
More info & calligraphy: Shanda(noun or adjectival noun) (1) grand; magnificent; lavish; large scale; prosperous; thriving; lively; (noun or adjectival noun) (2) forceful; powerful; vigorous; (given name) Seidai |
穆聖 穆圣 see styles |
mù shèng mu4 sheng4 mu sheng |
More info & calligraphy: Prophet Muhammad |
聖人 圣人 see styles |
shèng rén sheng4 ren2 sheng jen masato まさと |
More info & calligraphy: Holy Man / Saint(1) {Christn} saint; (2) (orig. meaning) wise and virtuous person (esp. in Confucianism); great religious teacher; sage; (3) (See 清酒) refined sake; (male given name) Masato is the opposite of the 凡人 common, or unenlightened man. |
聖地 圣地 see styles |
shèng dì sheng4 di4 sheng ti seichi / sechi せいち |
More info & calligraphy: Holy Land(1) sacred place; holy ground; the Holy Land; (2) (slang) real-life location used as a setting in a novel, film, anime, etc.; (place-name) Seichi stage of enlightenment |
聖天 圣天 see styles |
shèng tiān sheng4 tian1 sheng t`ien sheng tien seiten / seten せいてん |
More info & calligraphy: GaneshĀryadeva |
聖母 圣母 see styles |
shèng mǔ sheng4 mu3 sheng mu maria まりあ |
More info & calligraphy: Holy Mother / Saint Mary(1) mother of a holy person; (2) {Christn} Holy Mother; Virgin Mary; Our Lady; (female given name) Maria |
聖火 圣火 see styles |
shèng huǒ sheng4 huo3 sheng huo seika / seka せいか |
More info & calligraphy: Sacred Fire(1) sacred fire; sacred flame; (2) (See オリンピック聖火) Olympic flame; Olympic torch; (given name) Seika |
聖經 圣经 see styles |
shèng jīng sheng4 jing1 sheng ching |
More info & calligraphy: Holy Bible |
聖者 圣者 see styles |
shèng zhě sheng4 zhe3 sheng che seija; shouja / seja; shoja せいじゃ; しょうじゃ |
More info & calligraphy: The Saintsaint ārya, holy or saintly one; one who has started on the path to nirvāṇa; holiness. |
聖職 圣职 see styles |
shèng zhí sheng4 zhi2 sheng chih seishoku / seshoku せいしょく |
More info & calligraphy: Ministry / Priesthood(1) esteemed profession (e.g. priest, monk, teacher, doctor, etc.); venerable vocation; (2) {Christn} ministry; priesthood; holy orders |
聖誕 圣诞 see styles |
shèng dàn sheng4 dan4 sheng tan shōtan |
More info & calligraphy: Christmasemperor's birthday |
興盛 兴盛 see styles |
xīng shèng xing1 sheng4 hsing sheng okimori おきもり |
More info & calligraphy: Flourish(noun/participle) prosperity; flourishing; thriving; (given name) Okimori Prosper, successful. |
醫生 医生 see styles |
yī shēng yi1 sheng1 i sheng |
More info & calligraphy: DoctorSee: 医生 |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
| Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
| Birth Life | 生 | shou / iku / sho / iku | shēng / sheng1 / sheng | |
| Win Victory | 勝 胜 | shou / sho | shèng / sheng4 / sheng | |
| The Saint | 聖 圣 | sei | shèng / sheng4 / sheng | |
| In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. | ||||
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All of our calligraphy wall scrolls are handmade.
When the calligrapher finishes creating your artwork, it is taken to my art mounting workshop in Beijing where a wall scroll is made by hand from a combination of silk, rice paper, and wood.
After we create your wall scroll, it takes at least two weeks for air mail delivery from Beijing to you.
Allow a few weeks for delivery. Rush service speeds it up by a week or two for $10!
When you select your calligraphy, you'll be taken to another page where you can choose various custom options.
The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size"
single-character wall scroll.
We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size.
Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.
There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form
of art alive.
Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.
The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.
Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.
Some people may refer to this entry as Sheng Kanji, Sheng Characters, Sheng in Mandarin Chinese, Sheng Characters, Sheng in Chinese Writing, Sheng in Japanese Writing, Sheng in Asian Writing, Sheng Ideograms, Chinese Sheng symbols, Sheng Hieroglyphics, Sheng Glyphs, Sheng in Chinese Letters, Sheng Hanzi, Sheng in Japanese Kanji, Sheng Pictograms, Sheng in the Chinese Written-Language, or Sheng in the Japanese Written-Language.
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